Submerged oil storage tank



Jan. 2, 1951 Filed Aug. 26, 1946 A. C. SMITH SUBMERGED OIL STORAGE TANKI l mnh lll IU Il www limi1l Nimm! Jam., 2, l95 A. c. SMITH SUBIVERGEDOIL STORAGE TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed Aug. 26, 1946 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES .PATENT YOFFICE1 Claim.

This invention relates to storage tanks designed primarily for storingcrude oil or petroleum products under water in lakes, rivers or in theocean.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a tank for the purposeof storing oil, which will have no tendency to float, the tank beingopen at both ends, so that any possibility of air being trapped withinthe tank to iloat the tank will be eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a storage tank for crudeoil or petroleum, which will act to confine the crude oil or petroleum,the weight of the oil or petroleum being supported by the water in whichthe tank is submerged, thereby eliminating the necessity of providingexpensive tank supporting structure to support the excessive Weight ofthe oil loaded tank.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consi'sts of certain novel detailsof construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fullydescribed and pointed out in the claims, it being understood thatchanges may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section, illustrating a tankconstructed in accordance with the invention as submerged in a body ofwater, a portion of the tank being broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tank.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the tank is indicated by thereference character 5, and as shown, has its bottom open to permit waterin which the tank is submerged, to pass into the tank from the bottom.

Extending from the top 6 of the tank, is the tubular extension l thatestablishes communication between the body of the tank and theatmosphere, the tubular extension being substantially small in diameter,but of a length to extend an appreciable distance above the water levelof the body of water in which the tank is submerged. It will, of course,be understood that the height of the tubular extension 7 will be suchthat water from waves will not pass into the tank, through theextension.

Extending downwardly from the side of the tank, are mud anchors 8 thatare pointed so that they may be readily driven into the bed of the bodyof water in which the tank is positioned, to insure the tank being heldin an upright position at all times.

The reference character 9 indicates piling on which the platform I ismounted, there being provided spaced arms Il extending from the platformand contactng the extension 1, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of thedrawings. These arms may be secured to the extension l by welding,although the manner of securing the arms to the extension 'I plays nopart in the invention.

The reference character i2 indicates the suction pipe, and the referenceycharacter `i3 indicates the ll pipe through which oil is delivered tothe tank.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the oil which is indicated bythe reference character A in Figure l of the drawings, will iloat on theWater which enters the tank at the base thereof. the oil being forcedupwardly within the extension l.

Because the tank has both its upper and lower ends open, it will beobvious that all tendency for the tank to float will be eliminated. Itwill also be seen that because of the construction shown by applicant,the weight of the crude oil or petroleum products contained in the tank,will be supported by the water which enters the tank through the bottom,eliminating the necessity of providing extensive bracing and supportingmeans for the tank.

It is believed that in view of the foregoing detailed disclosure, afurther description as to the use of the tank is unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a submerged tank construction for iluid storage in a natural body ofwater a tank body, an extension rigid with and upstanding from thecenter of the top portion of the tank, said extension being ofsubstantial diameter, a plurality of stakes rigidly secured to the lowerportion of the tank and spaced circumierentially of the tank body andadapted to be embedded in the bottom of a natural body of water, pilingsadapted at their lower ends to be embedded in the bottom of said naturalbody of water, said pilings being of a length greater than the combinedlength of the stakes and tank body whereby the upper ends of saidpilings will be co-planar with said extension, a platform mounted on theupper ends of said pilings, and spaced arms extending from said platformand embracing between them the upper portion of said extension.

ARTHUR C. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 34,462 Gengembre Feb. 18, 186239,446 Ingalls Aug. 4, 1863 836,555 Birnie Nov. 20, 1906 1,184,620 BruunMay 23, 1916 1,460,999 Cooper July 3, 1923

